According to the latest Banque du Liban (BDL) statistics, Lebanon registered a balance of payments (BoP) deficit in November 2000 of $65.3 million compared to a deficit of $67.8 million in October, and a $24.2 million deficit in November 1999.

For the first 11 months of the year the BoP registered an accumulated deficit of $156.3 million compared to a surplus of $260.7 million for the same period in 1999.

The November 2000 deficit resulted from a $156.9 million drop in the net foreign assets of the Central Bank coupled with a $91.6 million rise in those of commercial banks. — (Banque du Liban et d'Outre-Mer Sal)